Loom stopping means



United States Patent [72] inventors JosephM.Budzyna.

50 Field 139/1, 1 l, 336, 341. 347

East Douglas; Harry William Thatcher, Mention, Mass. [21] Appl. No. 678,757

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [22] Filed Oct. 27, 1967 si e eto e a el .mm n ma ut u e HFPTM 9 392 35556 99999 11111 96267 1 5 950 65253 36397 75684 1 22223 E n m L. m. m i m M e H m 0 M u my fl nub h m 8 cm 0 M 7d m 9 n om 9 p 2 m mm mmmmv hmtm d e mm wh ms PA .1] 53 47 [.1

Continuation of application Ser. No.

FOREIGN PATENTS 1965 abandmed' 2/1962 Austria.........................

Primary Examiner-Henry S. .laudon Art0rneyPaul & Paul Germany.

This application Oct. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 678,757

[54] LOOM STOPPING MEANS 90am 11 Drawing Figs ABSTRACT: Protective control mechanism for sto [52] US. shuttle looms in the event of de] Pp yayed or incomplete shuttle 139/341 boxing. Simplified, lightweight linkage for initiating and trans- D03d 51/02, v mitting stopping signals from the shuttle boxes to the clutch- D03d 5 1/44 brake motor drive while bypassing the loom shipper device.

PATENTEB 0&0291970 $550,644

saw 1 0F 6 PATENTEU UEE29 370 SHEET 2 OF 6 INVENTOR. JOSMEJDH IVI. Buo'zv MA HAFEYRY WILLIAM H -|ATCJ 445 'PATENTED DEC29 m 3,550, 44

SHEEI u [1F 6 INVENT()R. JOSEPH M. BLJDZYMA HARRY WILLIAMTHATQJk-IEFQ 22M hmM/Q Q's-50.6w

PATENTED UEC29 I97" SHEET 5 UF 6 v INVENTOR. JOSEPH MIBLJDZYNA HARRY WILLIAM FHA FCHER xnrmllllll.

LOOM STOPPING MEANS This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 476,979, filed Aug. 3, 1965 and now abandoned.

This invention relates to weaving looms of the fly-shuttle reducing the weight of the mechanism which in known devices has been a contributing factor in the breakage of various loom components.

A still further object is that of devising such a mechanism which by perfon'ning its function more efiiciently with fewer cooperating components, provides a relatively inexpensive and economically desirable loom stopping mechanism.

.Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following more detailed disclosure. The majority of present-day looms being furnished to the weaving industry depend upon a unitary type clutch-brake motor as their source of power and the loom stopping mechanism according to the instant invention is adapted to cooperate with motors of this type during the performance of its intended function.

It is common practice in weaving looms to provide a means for stopping a loom automatically in the event of improper shuttle boxing to prevent damage to the shuttle as well as to the warp yarns that extend transversely of the lay. This manner of abruptly stopping a loom is commonly referred to as a bang-off Prior to the present invention, the means to effect a bangoff usually included a lay supported protector rod which is oscillatable in a known'manner and includes frog engageable dagger fingers adjacent each end thereof. With this arrangement, linkage between the shuttle box and the protector rod will lift the dagger fingers a sufficient distance to clear the frogs when the shuttle is properly received and positioned within the shuttle box. In the event a shuttle is improperly received or positioned within a shuttle box, the aforementioned linkage will fail to lift the dagger fingers and the latter will be caused to engage the frogs creating a so-called bang-off which brings the loom to an abrupt stop.

This form of loom stopping has created conditions which are considered undesirable in present-day looms for as is wellknown to those familiar with the weaving art, modern looms have a substantially heavier lay construction and are adapted to operate at greater speeds than the older models of looms.

This added weight and the increase in loom speed are at time of bang-off contributing factors in the cause of breakage of various loom components such as loom frames and those cooperating elements-utiliied to effect the actual stopping of the loom.

The novel mechanism according to the instant invention provides an improved means of stopping a loom and has eliminated the conventional bang-off .components which include the protector rod, dagger fingers and frogs.

The present invention functions independently of the shipper motion parts which provide the means for manually starting and stopping a loom in a manner well-known to those conversant in the weaving art.

The invention includes a means forming a part of each shuttle box for sensing the presence of a shuttle when it is received therein. This means is in the form of a pivoting element which extends into the shuttle box in the path of the shuttle and when the shuttle enters the box it contacts said element pivoting the same to a position where it will not interfere with said shuttle when the latter is caused to leave said shuttle box.

If the pivoting element fails to be actuated, a knock-off bracket which is mechanically linked to said element contacts a pivotable lever on the forward movement of the lay to pivot the upper portion thereof in a like direction. This pivotable lever is, through a combination of linkage elements, interconnected with the operating lever of the clutch-brake motor.

The operating lever of the clutch-brake motor is provided adjacent its lower end with a generally U-shaped disconnect latch. The leg portions of this latch straddle the operating lever and it is pivotably attached to the latter by means of a pin which passes through aligned apertures in said lever and latch members. The configuration of the disconnect latch is such that the outer portion thereof has a natural tendency to pivot downwardly and is caused to rest on the so-called shipper connection which forms a part of the control means for manually starting and stopping a loom. The shipper connection is in rod form and extends outwardly from the loom beyond the outer edge of the disconnect latch. That portion of the shipper con nection beyond the latch is slightly larger in diameter and forms a shoulder against which said latch is caused to bear. When the shipper handle is moved to operating position, the shipper connection moves inwardly and the shouldered portion thereof presses on the disconnect latch to move or tilt the motors operating lever to that position which engages the clutch and puts the loom into operation. In operation, the operating lever is held in operating position and is spring biased toward the inoperative position. By simply tilting the disconnect latch upwardly a relatively short distance, contact is lost between the outer edge of the latch and the shouldered portion of the shipper connection permitting the spring biased operating lever to move to the inoperative position.

The disconnect latch and means for actuating the same constitute the instant invention which will be described in detail by reference to a specific embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of a portion of a loom showing the mechanism according to the invention as applied thereto;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a loom motor showing the manner in which the disconnect latch holds the motors operating lever in operating position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the basic elements of FIG. 2 but with the disconnect latch tilted to a position which permits the motors operating lever to move to an inoperative position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view in exploded form showing the disconnect latch and the shipper connection with which it is adapted to cooperate;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing those linkage elements for actuating the disconnect latch;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the right-hand shuttle box showing the pivoting element within the shuttle box for sensing the presence of a shuttle and the linkage on the. under portion of said lay which interconnects the pivoting elements of both the right-and left-hand shuttle boxes;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 6 but showing the lefthand shuttle box;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a portion of the righthand side of the lay as looking upwardly at the underside thereof and illustrating the linkage that extends across the lay which is interconnected with the pivoting elements in both the right-and left-hand shuttle boxes;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a portion of the right-hand shuttle box showing the pivoting element and its cooperating components in a position for stopping a loom;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the pivotable double armed lever which interconnects the linkage extending between the shuttle boxes and which is centrally disposed on the underside of the lay; and

FIG. 11 is another perspective view of a portion of a loom showing part of the linkage for manually starting and stopping a loom.

Referring now to the FIGS. of drawing, a side view of a loom of conventional design is illustrated in broken outline in FIG. I and is depicted generally by numeral 20.

As the general construction and operation of this type of loom is well-known and familiar to those conversant with the weaving art, and as the invention is entirely concerned with a novel means for stopping a loom, it is only considered necessary here to illustrate and describe those parts of a loom directly concerned with a preferred form of the present invention.

The loom 20 includes among other conventional parts a shipper handle 21, shipper connection linkage rods 22 and 23 which interconnect the shipper handle with a unitary clutchbrake motor or power transmitter 24. The motor is supported by a frame 25 which is suitably attached to the loom frame and the aforementioned linkage interconnecting said motor with the shipper handle serves as a means for manually starting and stopping a loom.

A lay 26 which is supported for movement to and fro during loom operation is fixedly attached to the upper and forward portion of spaced and aligned sword members 27 and 28 (FIGS. 1, 6 and 7).

Each end of the lay 26 is provided with the usual shuttle box, the left being depicted generally in FIG. 7 by numeral 29 and the right in FIG. 6 by numeral 30.

A shuttle 31 is shown in outline in each of the shuttle boxes 29 and 30 and is caused to be picked from one box to the other in the usual manner by pickers 32 and 33 which are fixedly attached adjacent the upper ends of picker sticks 34 and 35,'respectively.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 6 of the drawings, that portion of the instant invention utilized to sensethe position of a shuttle' within the right-hand shuttle box will be described. Adjacent the shuttle box entrance and adjacent the rearward side of the lay, a generally vertically disposed rod member 36 assembles for rotary oscillation in said lay. This rod extends upwardly beyond the upper surface of the lay and also downwardly beyond the lower surface thereof. The upper end of rod 36 is provided with a laterally extending arm 37 the free end of which terminates in an enlarged and vertically disposed plate-like surface 38 which is adapted to contact the side of the shuttle 31 as it enters the shuttle box 30. Arm 37 is fixedly attached to pivot about the axis of the rod member 36 and is caused to move therewith in a manner to be more fully described hereinafter.

The lower end of the rod member 36 is provided with a double armed lever 39 which is also fixedly attached to said rod member by any suitable means not shown such as welding and extends in a generally lateral direction with respect to the position of the lay. That end of lever 39 which extends toward the-rear of the loom is provided with an integrally formed hook-like element 40 and the forward portion thereof provides a pivot point 41 to which a linkage rod 42 is adapted to assemble. Linkage rod 42 extends along the underside of the lay as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 and is pivotally attached to one end of a second double armed lever 43 which is assembled for pivoting movement on a mounting bracket 44. This mounting bracket is centrally located on the underside of the lay and is fixedly positioned at this point by means of bolts 45 and hex nuts 46, as shown in FIG. 10. A second linkage rod 47 is pivotably attached to the opposite end of the lever 43 and it extends the remaining distance from the center of the lay to the left-hand shuttle box as shown in FIG. 7.

The components of the left-hand shuttle box are similar to those described for the right-hand shuttle box and include a vertically disposed rod 48 that is comparable to rod member 36. As with rod 36, the upper end of rod 48 is provided with a laterally extending arm 49 and is also provided with an enlarged and vertically disposed plate-like surface 50 that is adapted to contact the side of the shuttle 31 as it enters the shuttle box 29. The lower end of rod 48 is provided with a single armed lever 51 which is fixedly attached to said rod and the free end thereof serves as a means for pivotably attaching the end of the second linkage rod 47 as at 52 (FIG. 7).

It can now be easily seen that by means of the linkage rods 42 and 47, any pivoting movement in one shuttle box of the vertically disposed rod and its cooperating elements heretofore described will cause the similar components in the opposite shuttle box to move in a like manner.

Prior to the shuttle entering a particular shuttle box the vertically disposed plate-like surfaces 38 and are in that position shown in FIG. 9 which places them in the path of the incoming shuttle.

As the shuttle enters the box the back sidewall thereof contacts these plate-like surfaces and pivots them to those positions shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. This pivoting movement moves the double armed lever 39 from that position shown in FIG. 9 to that position shown in FIG. 6.

When the lay is at the limit of its rearward movement the shuttle has been picked and is moving across the lay to the op posite shuttle box. At this time the plate-like surfaces 38 and 50 are reset so as to extend into the shuttle box and to obstruct the path of the shuttle (FIG. 9). The means for resetting these members includes horizontally slidable rods, and since both shuttle boxes are provided with similar resetting components a detailed description of only those in the right-hand shuttle box will give a full understanding of this resetting means.

The slidable rod in th right-hand shuttle box is identified by numeral 53 (53 in the left-hand box as noted in FIG. 7) and is supported for horizontal movement in a bracket 54 that is suitably attached to the rearward side of the lay. This rod is slidable within a drilled hole which extends through the bracket 54 and includes a head portion 55 that is adapted to contact the laterally extending arm 37. The opposite end of rod'53 extends rearwardly and beyond the rearward side of the bracket 54. A coil spring 56 assembles on that portion of the rod which protrudes beyond the back of the bracket 54 and is maintained thereon by any suitable means such as a washer 57 and cotter pin 58 (FIGS. 7 and 9). This spring arrangement continually urges the rod 53 rearwardly so that the head portion 55 thereof is caused to rest against the forward side of the bracket 54. As the lay moves rearwardly and approaches the so-called back center, that end of the rod 53 opposite its head portion 55 is caused to strike the upper end of an aligned and vertically disposed leaf-type spring element 59 which is suitably supported by a mounting bracket 60 that is attached to the loom frame (FIG. 1). Contact between these members forces the rod 53 forwardly and the head 55 thereof pushes against the laterally extending arm 37 thereby pivoting the same to a position which places the plate-like surface 38 into the path of the shuttle.

The novel linkage means adapted to function in cooperation with the shuttle box mechanism herein described for automatically stopping the loom will now be described.

A vertically disposed lever member 61 is pivotably attached at its lower end on a bracket element 62 as at 63 and the latter is, by means not shown, suitably attached to the loom frame. Lever 61 is pivotable in a forward direction and to limit its movement in a rearward direction, bracket 62 is provided with an adjustable setscrew 64 the tip portion of which is caused to bear against the lower rear side of said lever 61 as at 65 (FIG. 1).

A linkage rod 66 is pivotably attached to lever 61 adjacent its upper end and extending rearwardly therefrom the opposite end of said rod extends through an opening in the lower portion of the top girt end 67 and is pivotably attached to one arm of a bellcrank lever 68. A disconnect rod 69 is pivotably attached to the second arm of the bellcrank lever 68 and extends outwardly through a cored hole 70 provided in the loom frame 71. This bellcrank lever 68 is mounted for pivoting movement in a bifurcated support bracket 72 by means of a pin 73 (FIG. 5) which assembles in aligned holes in the bifurcated portion of said bracket with the central part thereof passing through the hub of said bellcrank lever.

The disconnect rod 69 extends in a horizontal plane through hole 70 to a point below and adjacent the clutch-brake motor 24 with which it is adapted to cooperate and which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The clutch-brake motor is provided with the usual spring biased operating lever 74 which is continually being urged outwardly into the brake engaging position by a coil spring 75 (FIG. 2). This spring is attachedto the lower outer edge of the motor and extending outwardly therefrom the opposite. end is attached to the operating lever 74 in a conventional manner not shown. To engage the clutch portion of the motor for operating the loom, the lower end of the operating lever must be moved in the direction of the indicating arrow 76 in FIG. 2 with a'means'for holding it in this position during loom operation. The conventional shipper motion parts are utilized for device includes a generally U-shaped disconnect latch which is generally indicated in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 by numeral 77. The leg portions of this disconnect latch are identified by numerals 78 and 79 and in assembled position are adapted to straddle the outer surfaces of operating lever 74 adjacent its lower end. As shown in FIG. 4, the disconnect latch is provided with aligned apertures 80 and 81 which when in assembled position are adapted to receive a clevis pin 82 which also passes through similar apertures (not shown) in the operating lever. A cotter pin 83 holds pin 82 in its proper position and the latter allows the disconnect latch to be tilted from that position shown in FIG. 2'to that position shown in FIG. 3.

The pivot point of the latch is located so that said latch will constantly by urged toward the'horizontal position depicted in FIG. 2 and that portion interconnecting the legs 78 and 79 which is identified by numeral 84 is caused to rest upon the upper surface of the linkage rod 23 or so-called shipper connection adjacent its outerend.

To provide sufficient contact area between the linkage rod 23 and the interconnecting portion 84 of the latch, said portion is recessed as at 85 (FIGS. 3 and 4).

. The linkage rod 23'extends outwardly from the loom and the free end thereof passes-through and beyond an aligned aperture 86 (FIG. 3) provided in the lower portion of the operating lever 74. The terminal portion of this linkage rod is slightly larger in diameter as identified by numeral 87 and forms ashou'lder against which portion 84 of thezlatch is lay is commencing to move from back to front center and the hook-like element will clear and move past the upper end of lever member 61.

In the event a shuttle is late or, in other words, does not enter the shuttle box at the precise moment for which it was timed to enter, the lever 39 and hook element 40 will not be pivoted clear of lever member 61. With this condition the lay as it moves forwardly will cause the hook-like element 40 which moves therewith to pivot the upper portion of the lever 61 in a forwardly direction. Movement of lever 61 in this manner moves the linkage rod 66 connected thereto in the same direction and pivots the bellcrank lever 68 in a clockwise direction 'as seen looking from the top thereof. Movement of the bellcrank lever pushes the disconnect rod 69 outwardly and the free end of said rod being in contact with the ear-like projection 90 of the disconnect latch is effective in tilting the latter to that position shown in FIG. 3 thereby causing the operating lever 74 to move to the inoperative position.

This means of shutting off the loom does not effect the shipper motion parts and before starting the loom after such a stop, the shipper handle must be pushed to the off position to reset the disconnect latch into operating relationship with the linkage rod 23'.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to beundetstood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims;

We claim: 1

1. In a loom having a unitary clutch-brake motor, a lay movable by driving elements associated with said motor, aligned and oppositely disposed shuttle boxes forming the ends of said lay for receiving a shuttle as it is caused to travel thereacross, linkage elements for manually starting and stopping the movement of said lay, a pivotable operating lever caused to bear. As the shipper handle is being moved to -tegrally formed and downwardly extending extension 89 which terminates with a laterally extending ear-like projection v90 whichis in alignment and contact with the free end of the disconnect rod 69. Movement of thedisconnect rod 69 in the direction of the indicating arrow 9l shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will tilt the disconnect latch upwardly from that position shown in FIG. 2 to that position'shown in FIG. 3.

This movement causes a loss of contact between the outer edge of the latch and the enlarged shouldered portion 87 of linkage rod 23 and permits the spring to move operating lever 74 to the inoperative position.

In operation, the shuttle is picked back and forth from one shuttle box to the other in the conventional and well-known manner. As the shuttle enters either the right-0r left-hand v shuttle box, the back sidewall thereof contacts the-plate-like surfaces 38 or 50 depending on the particular shuttle box and pivots the same to clear the shuttle path. This movement in turn pivots the hook-like element 40 of the double armed lever 39 to that position depicted in FIG. 6. At this point the disposed at one end of said motor for movement in one direction to. engage the clutch thereof and in the opposite direction to engage the'brake thereof, said linkage elements comprising a shipper handle and linkage means therefrom connectable to said operating lever, a pivotal disconnect latch connected to said operating lever, shuttle position sensing members pivotably mounted within each of said shuttle boxes and adapted to. function with said disconnect latch to actuate said operating lever to permit the latter to activate the brake of said motor upon indication of an improperly positioned shuttle in one of said shuttle boxes.

2. In a loom having a unitary clutch-brake motor, a lay movable by driving elements associated with said motor, first linkage members for manually starting and stopping the movement of said lay, aligned and oppositely disposed shuttle boxes forming the ends of said lay for receiving a shuttle as it is caused to travel back and forthacross said lay, shuttle position sensing members pivotably mounted within each of said shuttle boxes, a pivotable operating lever disposed at one end of said motor for movement in one direction to engage the clutch thereof and in the opposite direction for applying the brake thereof, means constantly urging said lever in said direction for applying said brake, said first linkage members comprising a shipper handle and linkage means therefrom connectable to said operating lever, a pivotable disconnect latch disposed at one end of said operating lever, and further linkage members adapted to cooperate with said disconnect latch and sensing members for activating the brake of said motor upon indication of an improperly positioned shuttle in one of said shuttle boxes.

3. In a loom having a unitary clutch-brake motor, a lay driven by said motor, a shuttle box adjacent each end of said lay, a pivotable operating lever connected to said motor and movable in one directionto engage the clutch thereof and in the opposite direction to engage the brake thereof, and hand operable linkage means for selectively positioning said pivotable operating lever, the improvement which comprises a disconnect latch pivoted to said operating lever and movable between first and second positions, said first position of the disconnect latch permitting clutching and braking of said motor through said hand operable linkage means and said second position allowing braking of said motor independently of said hand operable linkage means.

4. ln a loom having a unitary clutch-brake motor, a lay driven by said motor, a shuttle box adjacent each end of said lay, a pivotable operating lever connected to said motor and movable in one direction to engage the clutch thereof and in the opposite direction to engage the brake thereof, a hand operable linkage rod connected to said operating lever for selective positioning of the latter, the improvement which comprises a pivotable disconnect member intermediate said operating lever and said linkage rod, said linkage rod including an abutment normally engageable with said disconnect member to induce braking and driving of said motor through said hand operable means and loom stopping linkage independent of said linkage rod movable upon indication for loom stoppage in a direction to pivot said disconnect member to a position remote from said hand operable linkage rod thereby allowing movement of said operating lever to braking position.

5. The mechanism according to claim 4 wherein said loom stopping linkage is adapted to disengage said linkage rod and operating lever by actuating said disconnect member.

6. The mechanism according to claim 4 wherein said loom stopping linkage is adapted to derive an indication from a shuttle sensing member in each said shuttle box.

7. The mechanism according to claim 4 wherein said shuttle sensing member comprising a pivotable feeler member is movable into and out of each said shuttle box, the sensing member in one shuttle box being interconnected to that in the other.

8. In a loom having a unitary clutch-brake motor, a lay movable by driving elements associated with said motor,

aligned and oppositely disposed shuttle boxes forming the ends of said lay for receiving a shuttle as it is caused to travel thereacross, linkage elements for manually starting and stopping the movement of said lay, a pivotable operating lever disposed at one end of said motor for movement in one direction to engage the clutch thereof and in the opposite direction to engage the brake thereof, said linkage elements comprising a shipper handle and linkage means therefrom connectable to and disconnectable from said operating lever, shuttle position sensing members pivotably mounted within each of said shuttle boxes and connected to engageable and disengageable parts effective through forward motion of said lay to disconnect said linkage means from said operating lever to pemtit the latter to activate the brake of said motor upon indication of an improperly positioned shuttle in one of said shuttle boxes.

9. in a loom having a unitary clutchbrake motor, a lay movable by driving elements associated with said motor, aligned and oppositely disposed shuttle boxes forming the ends of said lay for receiving a shuttle as it is cause caused to travel thereacross, linkage elements for manually controlling said clutch-brake motor, a pivotal operating lever disposed at one end of said motor for movement in one direction to engage the clutch thereof and in the opposite direction to engage the brake thereof, said linkage elements comprising a shipper handle and linkage means therefrom connectable to said operating lever, a disconnect latch connecting said linkage means and said operating lever, pivotable shuttle position sensing members associated with each of said shuttle boxes and adapted to actuate said disconnect latch thereby permitting said operating lever to disengage the clutch and actuate the brake of said motor upon indication of an improperly positioned shuttle in either of said shuttle boxes. 

